staceandjeff

8.8 Highly Recommended

Food  8      Drinks  8      Ambience  9      Service  10      Value  9     

Have been here once before when the restaurant first opened and was trying the fusion theme with their food and found it hit the mark. Went today for yum cha, only available at weekends and absolutely loved it. Would like if there were some more adventurous foods but understand the need to cater to the market.

Pork Dumplings some of the best I've tasted. Great value for money though would be great if the tea was filled up regularly as part of the experience. Will be yum cha'ing it again soon and might even try the saturday night bands. Spkle to the chef/owner at the end and like the rest of the staff was very friendly. Will be back.

Jan 15, 2012

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

9.5 Highly Recommended

Food  9      Ambience  10      Service  10      Value  9     

Went to eschalot as a group of 4. Seated in a private room. Service was impeccable from entry all the way to leaving about 3-4 hours later.

We had the degustation menu. We will be coming back again just to have the duck, absolutely beautiful! I can still taste it now just thinking of it 2 months later! We had the menu without the suggested wines and made our own selections from the extensive list. There are some local beauties on there that are great value for money.

A big thank you to the team at eschalot - we will be back!

Read the full review on my blog

Jan 11, 2012

9.8 Highly Recommended

Ambience  9      Service  10      Value  10      Drinks  10     

A little gem to discover on a sunday night! Started off with the compulsory rice paper rolls and viet spring rolls..gorgeous. Followed up by a main of viet satay beef and chilli prawns. Yum! From the writing on the walls here it's popular with many! So glad we got out of the city and discovered another part of canberra with a great restaurant strip... will be back again!

Oct 24, 2011

1 of 2 people found the following review helpful

8 Recommended

Food  9      Ambience  9      Service  7      Value  7     

As part of a weekend away of celebration, we wanted to enjoy fine food and wine for at least one night. Tried to get into Courgette, but it was booked out and we were directed to Waters Edge. From mixed reviews on this site and others, we were a bit unsure whether Waters Edge would provide what we were after. To add to the confusion was that it is the highest rated restaurant by the Good Food guide!

Well, I can say that as an overall experience Waters Edge delivered, with the food and wine the highlight.

We had booked online and upon arrival there appeared to be no reservation and the maitre d' was in a bit of a huff! Memories of other reviews came running back! However, the service did improve later on into the evening and if this wasn't such a high flying restaurant it could be more easily forgiven.

As for the food and wine, we selected the 7 course degustation, absolutely beautiful and the wines well matched. Best dishes were the kingfish, duck and beef...along with dessert of course.

We would not hesitate in returning. 4 stars!

Oct 24, 2011

8.5 Highly Recommended

Food  9      Ambience  9      Service  9      Value  7     

Went to Aria on Saturday night in a small group of 4 friends. We arrived before the table was ready, which was a blessing as the 2 girls were able to have a pre dinner cocktail as we relaxed in the bar. The table became ready shortly after, however, our wish to stay in the bar for a bit longer was respected and we were not rushed at all. Once all drinks were finished we were promptly shown to our table.

This was the start to a great night of service and attentiveness. At no time did I feel like I had to think I was privileged to be there as per other reviews. Maybe we just struck the staff on a good night?

As for the food, it improved through the night. The pork belly for entree was Ok, a bit soft and wet in the middle which made me wonder whether it had been prepared well in advance and just reheated, particularly as the entrees were served within 5 minutes of ordering.

The lamb was excellent, albeit slightly cooked beyond Medium Rare as ordered. The beed and venison also received rave reviews. The highlight was the Chocolate Delice for dessert, divine!

The assistance with choosing wines was also much appreciated and the wine service the same. As Designated Driver I was sticking to water, but apparently the wines were a good match for the dinner.

As for value, you go to these places expecting to pay through the nose. It wasn't as steep as we expected at the end of the night. I must say though, they suggested accompaniment of mashed potato for the mains at 15 dollars for a small bowl was definitely not value.

Overall a great night for special occasions and thank the staff for such great service. Oh, of course, the view is fantastic as well. Even from the back of the restaurant.

Sep 14, 2010

8.8 Highly Recommended

Food  8      Drinks  8      Ambience  9      Service  10      Value  9     

Have been here once before when the restaurant first opened and was trying the fusion theme with their food and found it hit the mark. Went today for yum cha, only available at weekends and absolutely loved it. Would like if there were some more adventurous foods but understand the need to cater to the market.

Pork Dumplings some of the best I've tasted. Great value for money though would be great if the tea was filled up regularly as part of the experience. Will be yum cha'ing it again soon and might even try the saturday night bands. Spkle to the chef/owner at the end and like the rest of the staff was very friendly. Will be back.

Jan 15, 2012

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

9.5 Highly Recommended

Food  9      Ambience  10      Service  10      Value  9     

Went to eschalot as a group of 4. Seated in a private room. Service was impeccable from entry all the way to leaving about 3-4 hours later.

We had the degustation menu. We will be coming back again just to have the duck, absolutely beautiful! I can still taste it now just thinking of it 2 months later! We had the menu without the suggested wines and made our own selections from the extensive list. There are some local beauties on there that are great value for money.

A big thank you to the team at eschalot - we will be back!

Read the full review on my blog

Jan 11, 2012

9.8 Highly Recommended

Ambience  9      Service  10      Value  10      Drinks  10     

A little gem to discover on a sunday night! Started off with the compulsory rice paper rolls and viet spring rolls..gorgeous. Followed up by a main of viet satay beef and chilli prawns. Yum! From the writing on the walls here it's popular with many! So glad we got out of the city and discovered another part of canberra with a great restaurant strip... will be back again!

Oct 24, 2011

1 of 2 people found the following review helpful

8 Recommended

Food  9      Ambience  9      Service  7      Value  7     

As part of a weekend away of celebration, we wanted to enjoy fine food and wine for at least one night. Tried to get into Courgette, but it was booked out and we were directed to Waters Edge. From mixed reviews on this site and others, we were a bit unsure whether Waters Edge would provide what we were after. To add to the confusion was that it is the highest rated restaurant by the Good Food guide!

Well, I can say that as an overall experience Waters Edge delivered, with the food and wine the highlight.

We had booked online and upon arrival there appeared to be no reservation and the maitre d' was in a bit of a huff! Memories of other reviews came running back! However, the service did improve later on into the evening and if this wasn't such a high flying restaurant it could be more easily forgiven.

As for the food and wine, we selected the 7 course degustation, absolutely beautiful and the wines well matched. Best dishes were the kingfish, duck and beef...along with dessert of course.

We would not hesitate in returning. 4 stars!

Oct 24, 2011

8.5 Highly Recommended

Food  9      Ambience  9      Service  9      Value  7     

Went to Aria on Saturday night in a small group of 4 friends. We arrived before the table was ready, which was a blessing as the 2 girls were able to have a pre dinner cocktail as we relaxed in the bar. The table became ready shortly after, however, our wish to stay in the bar for a bit longer was respected and we were not rushed at all. Once all drinks were finished we were promptly shown to our table.

This was the start to a great night of service and attentiveness. At no time did I feel like I had to think I was privileged to be there as per other reviews. Maybe we just struck the staff on a good night?

As for the food, it improved through the night. The pork belly for entree was Ok, a bit soft and wet in the middle which made me wonder whether it had been prepared well in advance and just reheated, particularly as the entrees were served within 5 minutes of ordering.

The lamb was excellent, albeit slightly cooked beyond Medium Rare as ordered. The beed and venison also received rave reviews. The highlight was the Chocolate Delice for dessert, divine!

The assistance with choosing wines was also much appreciated and the wine service the same. As Designated Driver I was sticking to water, but apparently the wines were a good match for the dinner.

As for value, you go to these places expecting to pay through the nose. It wasn't as steep as we expected at the end of the night. I must say though, they suggested accompaniment of mashed potato for the mains at 15 dollars for a small bowl was definitely not value.

Overall a great night for special occasions and thank the staff for such great service. Oh, of course, the view is fantastic as well. Even from the back of the restaurant.

Sep 14, 2010

7.3 Recommended

Food  7      Ambience  7      Service  7      Value  8     

Good value for money. Had the Greek Feast between the 2 of us, probably a bit too much bread and chips in the feast, but the salad and meats (skewers, grilled and fried squid) etc were superb. Value excellent and service reasonable as well. Great casual dining option with a view. Will be back.

Nov 18, 2009

8.5 Highly Recommended

Food  8      Ambience  9      Service  9      Value  8     

Stumbled on this place after checking into hotel. Chasing a bit of lunch on a Saturday. My Risotto Salsiccie was beautiful, great flavour, texture and temperature. My wife had Penne with Roasted Pumpkin. The pumpkin was lightly roasted if at all and a bit dry/underdone. The wine was great and the maitre d' and other wait staff couldn't do enough for us. Would go there for breakfast or lunch again next time we're in Melbourne.

Mar 24, 2009

3.3 Below Average

Food  4      Ambience  4      Service  3      Value  2     

Thought I'd give this place a go but won't be back in a hurry. Didn't find it to be value for money. Service was unattentive. Didn't get cutlery to eat entrees with and still didn't have cutlery when mains came out - we had to ask for a set....wake up people.

We also switched a few sides from what was set in menu and told that this was ok and no extra charge but then we were charged on the bill extra sides....waiter did change this for us though. Bar is the best part of the place.

Jun 17, 2008

5.8 Average

Food  7      Ambience  6      Service  5      Value  5     

Staff slow and not the best knowledge of the menu/specials/drink list. Greek Salad consisted of Garden Salad with a bit of Fetta thrown on top. Barramundi was beautiful, though was only real seafood choice on the menu. Most of the menu consists of a month's dietary intake of red meat. Will go back again to try it out. Was a pumping atmosphere and something needed in c/town.

Jan 11, 2008